title: Lipid-lowering agents and hepatotoxicity.
abstract: Lipid-lowering therapy is increasingly being used in patients for a variety of diseases, the most important being secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Many lipid-lowering drugs carry side effects that include elevations in hepatic function tests and liver toxicity. In many cases, these drugs are not prescribed or they are underprescribed because of fears of injury to the liver. This article attempts to review key trials with respect to the hepatotoxicity of these drugs. Recommendations are also provided with respect to the selection of low-risk patients and strategies to lower the risk of hepatotoxicity when prescribing these medications.
authors.affiliation: Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey 07103, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Demyen
authors.forename: Kawtar
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Alkhalloufi
authors.forename: Nikolaos T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Pyrsopoulos
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents
keywords: Drug-induced liver injury; Hepatotoxicity; Lipid-lowering agents; Statins